“Creating a scene combines snapshots of character and setting and describes something that is happening.” (p. 75) “This technique helps writers synthesize the information they are researching and serves to draw the reader in for a closer look.” (p. 75-76)
Students will write a narrative on their research topic by embedding information into action.
Read p. 6-7 of Lightning by Stephen Kramer (551.5 KRA). Discuss what makes that an exciting beginning. (description, action, can picture, word choice)
Show students the difference between:
a. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest place on earth. b. Down at the very bottom of the world, there’s a huge island that’s almost completely covered in snow and ice. It’s called Antarctica, and it’s the coldest, windiest place on earth. The weather’s bad enough there in summer, but in winter, it’s really terrible. It’s hard to imagine anything actually living there. (The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins)
Share NFMT p. 90 (Model section) about frogs, showing the list of facts, then the scene created with those facts.
Read I Can Read About Creatures of the Night starting at the bat section (p. 10).
Students listen for facts about bats.
Students remember and share up to 5 facts to put under doc cam.
Have them use those facts to create a scene.
Share examples from past years.
Read Bat Loves the Night – Davies (E DAV) and discuss how the author uses her facts in many scenes with wonderful details and other facts in smaller print.
Try again with the moth section (p. 6).
Students share their lead that they like the best.
“Creating a scene combines snapshots of character and setting and describes something that is happening.” (p. 75)
“This technique helps writers synthesize the information they are researching and serves to draw the reader in for a closer look.” (p. 75-76)
a. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest place on earth.
b. Down at the very bottom of the world, there’s a huge island that’s almost completely covered in snow and ice. It’s called Antarctica, and it’s the coldest, windiest place on earth. The weather’s bad enough there in summer, but in winter, it’s really terrible. It’s hard to imagine anything actually living there. (The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins)
Do Writing in Second Person as the next lesson.